Ladle valve arrangement with stationary plug and slidable nozzle



March 28, 1967 E. c. STITELER 3,319,851

LADLE VALVE ARRANGEMENT WITH STATIONARY PLUG AND SLIDABLE NOZZLE FiledAug. 26, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 EZZWOOLJ c". 5777a 5/? BY fi/wm,

AWTOR/VEVS.

March 28, 1967 E; c. STITELI-IIR LADLE VALVE ARRANGEMENT WITH STATIONARYPLUG AND SLIDABLE NOZZLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 26, 1964 INVENTOR.flirt 17006252775154 Arrow 5Y5.

United States Patent 3,310,851 LADLE VALVE ARRANGEMENT WITH STATIQN- ARYPLUG AND SLIDABLE N GZZLE Ellwood C. Stiteler, 2 44 Cascade Road,Pittsburgh, Pa. 16101 Filed Aug. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 392,181 Claims.((11. 22-85} This invention relates to ladies for molten metal, such asused in steel mills, and more particularly to the closures for bottompouring openings.

A ladle for molten steel generally is provided in its bottom with anoutlet opening, which normally is closed by a refractory stopper seatedin the upper end of the opening. The stopper is raised and lowered by arefractory-protected shaft that extends up through the ladle and aboveits top, where it is supported and operated by cumbersome apparatus.Such a stopper and the refractory around the shaft generally have to bereplaced after each pour. Also, the upper end of the outlet nozzle hasto be replaced after each heat from the inside of the hot ladle. Thisadds considerably to the cost of steel making. It has been proposed tooperate the stopper from below the ladle by extending an extension ofthe stopper down through the outlet opening and connecting it with meansfor raising and lowering the stopper. This is some improvement, but ifthe metal in the ladle freezes around the stopper, there is no way toinsert an oxygen lance from the bottom to free the stopper. Also, theoutlet still has to be repaired inside the ladle.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a ladle outletopening with a closure which eifectively closes the outlet opening,which can be operated from below the ladle, which can last for severalheats without replacement, which is inexpensive to replace, which can bereplaced from beneath the ladle, and which permits the use of an oxygenlance to melt any metal that may have frozen around the upper end of thepouring outlet.

In accordance with this invention, a ladle for molten metal is providedin its bottom with an outlet opening. Slidably mounted in this openingis a refractory nozzle that is provided with a vertical passage throughit. The upper end of the passage is encircled by a valve seat formed bythe upper end of the nozzle. Above the nozzle passage there is astationary refractory valve plug that is supported in fixed position byrigid means. The nozzle is supported from below by means normallyholding it in its upper position with its seat engaging the plug,whereby to close the passage through the nozzle. Means are connectedwith the supporting means for lowering the nozzle away from the plug inorder to open the passage so that molten metal in the ladle can flowdown through the nozzle.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary horizontal section of a ladle showing myinvention in plan;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section of the ladle showing theinvention from one side;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line III-III of FIG.2, by showing the nozzle valve open;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line IV-IV of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line V-V of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings, a ladle 1 of any suitable construction isprovided in its bottom with an outlet opening 2. The bottom of the ladleis lined with a refractory floor 3 that has an opening 4 in line withthe ladle opening. Fitting in the outlet opening is a vertical tube 6,preferably formed from molded graphite. The

tube may be supported by a metal ring 7 held in opening 2 by studs 8extending down through a portion of the ring underlying the ladle. Thestuds may be threaded and provided with nuts, or be slotted to receivewedges 9. Preferably, the length of the tube is equivalent to thethickness of the floor of the ladle.

Mounted in fixed position above tube 6 and in axial alignment with it isa stationary refractory valve plug 10, the major diameter of which isconsiderably less than the inner diameter of the tube. The lower portionof the plug tapers downwardly, most suitably being more or lessspherical. Although the lower end of the plug could extend down a shortdistance into the tube, it isbetter that it be located a short distanceabove it. To hold the plug in place, it is supported in any one ofseveral ways, one of which is now described. Thus, the plug may besecured to the bottom of the horizontally extending leg of a largeinverted L-shape refractory block 11, the vertical portion of which iswedge-shape and rigidly mounted in the side wall of the ladle lining.The block therefore overhangs the graphite tube and the plug. To connectthe plug and block together, a steel anchor 12 may be mounted in theblock and project below it. The lower end of the anchor may be providedwith lateral projections 13, and the plug provided with a downwardlyextending axial bore terminating in lateral recesses 14 at its lower endreceiving those projections. The side of the bore between the recessesis provided with vertical grooves 15 to permit the plug to be pushed uparound the anchor and then turned to fit the recesses over projections13 like a bayonet joint.

Slidably mounted inside the graphite tube is a combination nozzle andclosure or valve member 17 made of a suitable refractory to withstandthe intense heat and erosion of the molten metal. The nozzle is providedwith a central vertical passage 18 through it of a size that will permitmolten metal to pour out of the ladle. The upper end of the passage isflared to provide an inclined annular seat 19 adapted to engage thelower portion of the valve plug and thereby close the central passage.

The nozzle is supported by a cylindrical socket member 21 havingdownwardly extending legs 22. The upper portion of the nozzle is largeenough to slide against the inside of tube 6 and to rest on top of thesocket member, but the rest of the nozzle is reduced in diameter inorder to extend down into the socket, which also may more or less engagethe encircling tube. The bottom of the socket member is open. The nozzleand socket may be fastened together by radial screws 23. The side wallof the socket member preferably is hollow and provided with openings inits bottom as shown in FIG. 4, so that air can circuate in the socketwall in order to reduce its temperature and that of the nozzle seated init. The legs 22 are bifurcated and the lower end of each one straddlesone side of the rectangular frame-like central portion of a lever 24below the ladle. The legs are connected to the lever by pivot pins 25extending through slots 26 in the lever. The inner end of the lever ispivotally connected to a bracket 27 (FIG. 2) projecting from the bottomof the ladle, while the slotted outer end of the lever is pivotallyconnected to the lower end of a piston rod 28 projecting from ahydraulic cylinder 29 secured to the side of the ladle. Fluid underpressure normally is supplied to the lower end of the cylinder to holdthe lever, and therefore the socket member and nozzle, in their upperpositions, in which the nozzle seats against the valve plug to close theupper end of pouring passage 18. The lever also can be operated manuallyby extending it.

When it is time to pour metal from the ladle, the hydraulic cylinder isreversed so that the outer end of the lever will be forced down to pullthe socket member and nozzle downward in tube 6. When the nozzle is inits lower position, its upper end is either on a level with the floor ofthe ladle or slightly below it, so that molten metal can flow freelybetween the plug and the upper end of the lowered nozzle and into itscentral passage. When lever 24 is swung upwardly again by cylinder 29,the nozzle will be raised into engagement with the valve plug to closethe nozzle passage.

The nozzle not only serves to direct the metal flowing out of the ladle,but it also serves as a valve to close the ladle outlet when desired.The nozzle is easy to replace when necessary by simply disconnectinglever 24 from the piston rod and from the socket legs 22 so that thesocket can be removed entirely from the ladle to expose the nozzle. Thevalve plug also can be replaced after the nozzle has been removed, byreaching up through the graphite tube and turning the plug to release itfrom its metal anchor.

In view of the fact that metal may sometimes freeze around seat 19 andthereby prevent the nozzle from being lowered, it is highly desirable tomake provision for melting that metal. That can be done with myconstrucion because an oxygen lance or the like can be inserted upthrough the nozzle passage 18 and an intense flame directed against theplug and nozzle where they meet. This will melt the hardened metal andpermit the nozzle to be lowered away from the plug. Additional means formelting such metal can be provided by providing a passage 31 from theoutside of the ladle inwardly through the plug-supporting block 11 andinto the upper end of a passage 3-2 that extends down through metalanchor 12. The lower end of this passage connects with a verticalpassage 33 through the lower portion of the plug. A suitable gas can bedelivered to the outer end of passage 31 to produce an intense flame atthe lower end of the plug for melting any metal around it.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, 1 have explained theprinciple of my invention and have illustrated and described what I nowconsider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have itunderstood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated anddescribed.

I claim:

1. The combination with a ladle for molten metal having an outletopening in its bottom and a refractory tube rigidly mounted in saidopening, of a refractory nozzle slidably mounted in said tube in sealingengagement therewith and provided with an open-top vertical passagetherethrough encircled at its upper end by a valve seat, a stationaryrefractory valve plug inside the ladle above the nozzle passage, meansrigidly supporting said plug, means normally supporting the nozzle frombelow with its seat pressed up against the plug to close the upper endof said passage, said supporting means extending down below the ladle,and means outside of the ladle connected with the lower end of saidsupporting means for lowering the nozzle away from the plug to open saidpassage to flow of molten metal down through the nozzle.

2. The combination with a ladle for molten metal having an outletopening in its bottom and a refractory tube rigidly mounted in saidopening, of a refractory nozzle slidably mounted in said tube in sealingengagement therewith and provided with an open-top vertical passagetherethrough encircled at its upper end by a valve seat, a stationaryrefractory valve plug inside the ladle above the nozzle passage, meansrigidly but removably supporting said plug, means normally supportingthe nozzle from below with its seat pressed up against the,

plug to close the upper end of said passage, said supporting meansextending down below the ladle, and means outside of the ladledetachably connected with the lower end of said supporting means forlowering the nozzle away from the plug to open said passage to flow ofmolten metal down through the nozzle, the nozzle being removable fromthe lower end of said refractory tube when said lowering means isdisconnected from said supporting means, and the diameter of said plugbeing smaller than the inside diameter of the tube to permit the plug tobe removed through the tube.

3. The combination with a ladle for molten metal having an outletopening in its bottom and a refractory tube rigidly mounted in saidopening, of a tubular socket member slidably disposed in said tube,means outside of the ladle connected with the lower end of the socketmember and normally holding said member in its upper position with itstop below the upper end of said tube, a refractory nozzle provided withan open-top vertical passage therethrough encircled at its upper end bya valve seat, the upper portion of the nozzle being seated on saidsocket member in sliding sealing engagement with the inner surface ofsaid tube, the rest of the nozzle being reduced in diameter andextending down through said socket member, a stationary refractory valveplug rigidly mounted inside the ladle above the nozzle passage andnormally engaged by said valve seat to close the upper end of thepassage, and means for lowering said socket member holding means tolower the nozzle away from the plug to open said passage to flow ofmolten metal down through the nozzle and socket member.

4. The combination recite-d in claim 3, in which the side walls of saidsocket member are hollow and open at the bottom.

5. The combination recited in claim 4, in which the side walls of saidsocket member are hollow and open at the bottom and are provided withlegs extending downward and operatively connected to said socket memberholding means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 117,918 8/ 1871Ostrander 22-85 460,575 10/1891 Grace 22-84 3,034,689 5/1962 Stoughtonet al. 222525 3,200,457 8/1965 Wagstatf 22209 FOREIGN PATENTS 357,912 4/1-921 Germanyv 18,628 3/ 1914 Great Britain.

I. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner,

D- BA Q Ass st nt Exam n r,

1. THE COMBINATION WITH A LADLE FOR MOLTEN METAL HAVING AN OUTLETOPENING IN ITS BOTTOM AND A REFRACTORY TUBE RIGIDLY MOUNTED IN SAIDOPENING, OF A REFRACTORY NOZZLE SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID TUBE IN SEALINGENGAGEMENT THEREWITH AND PROVIDED WITH AN OPEN-TOP VERTICAL PASSAGETHERETHROUGH ENCIRCLED AT ITS UPPER END BY A VALVE SEAT, A STATIONARYREFRACTORY VALVE PLUG INSIDE THE LADLE ABOVE THE NOZZLE PASSAGE, MEANSRIGIDLY SUPPORTING SAID PLUG, MEANS